In a brief conversation with David Greene for NPR, Kendrick Lamar speaks on witnessing a murder in his neighborhood at the age of 5, his music as redemption for past misdeeds and the recent murder of his friend Chad and his own feelings of guilt for not being able to prevent it. He also specifically addresses criticismm of his “Trayvon Martin” line on “Blacker The Berry,” explaining that he’s actually not victim blaming as some people have inferred, but rather speaking to himself about taking responsibility for his own personal actions.